Gas-generator



fw M t www@ u JWe/zlar m Am 2 Sheets- Sheet .Patented oct. 29. 1889.

DE WITTE STBARNS.

GAS GENERATOR m'l'neses A f @ep/W (No Model.)

(No Modell) A '2 sheets-sheet- 2,. DE -WI'I'TE STEARNS.

' GAS GENERATOR. No. 413.767.

Patented Oct'. 29,1889.

N. PETERS. Phuto-Limugmpher. wnsmngmn, D. C.

UNITED" [STATES PATENT OFFICE.

A DE NVITT STEARNS, OF DES MOINES, IOVA.

GAS-GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 413,767, dated October 29, 1.889.

Griginal application tiled June 12, 1888, Serial No. 276,836. Divided and this application filed November 2, 1888. Serial No. 289,809. (No model.)

To cZZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, DE WITTE STEARNs, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Des Moines, Polk county, Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas- Generators, of which the following is a specii fcation.

This invention relates to improvements in gas-generators for converting liquid hydroio carbons into gases; and it consists of a series of retorts, each composed of rows of pipe alternately connected at their ends and triangularly arranged, said retorts being nested together by the inversion of the alternate ones,

i 5 and also of simple means whereby they may be readily cleaned. It is .a division of an application for Letters Patent of the United States filed by me on the 12th day of June, 1888, andV known as Serial No. 276,836, and

2o said generator is shown, in the drawings in conjunction with other apparatus not here claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation, partly in section, of my improved apparatus for the production of gas from liquid hydrocarbon. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same onthe line .fr zr. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the inlet of one of the retorts. Fig. 4. is an elevation, partly in secgo tion, of a modification in the arrangement of the retorts. Fig. 5 is a view showing the inanner of connecting the front ends of the adjacentpipesof the retorts.

The retorts a b c, in which the gas is produced, consist of sets of Apipes arranged in rows embraced in a triangular area, each alternate retort thereby formed being inverted, as shown in Figs. ,l and 2, or reversed, as shown in the modification, Fig. 4. The purpose of 4o this arrangement is to economize space and to better utilize the heat from the furnace above the burner-tile CZ CZ. The outlet of the central retort b, or,in the form shown in Fig. 4, of the lower retort c, is connected to the burner CZ by the pipe e, the end of which is provided with the nozzle `e,'-which projects into the closed end of the mixing-chamber f to or past the air-inlets f, the areas'of the orifices of which are controlled by the valves 5o f2, and this mixing-chamber passes through the front wall g and enters the forward end of the burner-chamber CZ?. To insure the flow of gas from the retort b, the pipe t' from one of the steam-superheaters is arranged to enter the pipe c and terminate therein with a nozzle, as shown in Fig. 2.'

The steam-supcrheaters ZL, placed above the retorts et b c, are supplied with steam from the pipe h through the horizontal pipes h2. The

superheated steam passes from the superheaters into the entrance ends of the retorts o Z2 c through the connectingpipes i, at which points it cornes in contact and mixes with the liquid hydrocarbon and carries the same into the retorts. The liquid hydrocarbon supplied by the pipes j enters the entrance ends of the retorts through the pipes j To facilitate the entrance of the hydrocarbon into the retorts, pipes Zo extend from the steam-supply pipe h to the retorts, each being provided with an injector-nozzlek, arranged Within the .entrance ends of the retorts, as shown at The pipes composing the retorts o. ZJ c are connected together in pairs at their front ends by "Fs and with nipples joining the side branches of the Ts, and to facilitate the cleaning of these pipes they are extended from the Ts in a straight line through the front Wall g by short pieces of pipe, the ends of which are closed by means of plugs. One of these connections is shown at Fig. 5, wherein Z Z represent the T-pieces, Z the connecting-nipple, Z2 the front extension-pipes, and Z3 the plug. The removal of these plugs Z3 permits off'any suitable scraper or cleaning implement n, upon which a wood or Yother iire may be kindled to initiallyheat the retorts, the necessary fuel being applied through the doors fn. n', and the ashes removed through the doors n2 'n2 in the front wall g. By this arrange ICO ment of grates at the sides of the gas-burner dirt and ashes from the starting lires are prevented from being deposited on the burner and obstructing its gas-orifices.

Gas previously produced by the apparatus or otherwise, if conveniently stored, may be supplied to the burner to initially heat the retorts and start the generation of the gas in lieu of using lires in the side grates. Then the retort b becomes sufficiently heated to convert the steam and liquid hydrocarbon into gases, the gases therein formed pass through the pipe e and the mixing-chamber finto the chamber d of the burner, taking with them through the openings f of the mixing-chamber the quantity of air necessary to insure perfect combustion. The amount of this air-su ppl y is controlled by the adjustment of the air-valves f2. The mixture of the gases and air so produced lills the chamber d' with a uniform pressure throughout and issues therefrom through the orifices in the tiles d, and a steady and uniform fire over the whole extent of the burner-tiles is thereby secured upon the ignition of the gas, and economical distribution and utilization of the heat therefrom among and by the pipes composing the retorts a b c results in part therefrom and in part from the relative arrangement of such pipes, and the products of combustion not utilized iinally escape through the flue o. The lower layer of pipes of the retorts are supported on the narrow arch p, and the successive layers of these pipes are held out of contact with each other by the spacing-bars p.

The number of the retorts may be varied at pleasure, according to the exigencies of the case. The novel method of inverting or reversing the position of the alternate retorts, besides more fully utilizing the heat, admits of the arrangement of a group of such retorts vertically, as shown in the modification, Fig. 4, thereby economizing floor-space when desired.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In an apparatus for the production of gas from liquid hydrocarbon, the combination of a series of retorts each composed of connected pipes arranged in rows embraced in a triangular area and alternately reversed or inverted, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an apparatus for the production of gas from liquid hydrocarbons, the combination of a series of retorts each composed of connected pipes arranged in rows embracedin a triangular area, with steam-superheaters placed above the retorts and connected therewith, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an apparatus for the production of gas from liquid hydrocarbons, in combination,a series of retorts each composed of connected pipes arranged in rows embraced ina triangular area and alternately reversed or inverted, steam-superheaters connected to the retorts, a burner arranged to heat all the retorts and the steam-superheaters, and a connecting-pipe joining one of the retorts to the burner, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this Ist day of November, 1888.

DE \VITTE STEARNS.

Witnesses:

CHAs. STILLWELL, JOSEPH S. MICHAEL. 

